Singing rod How will holding position and hitting position affect the produced sound

Project report
Introduction
Sound waves
Sound is a mechanical wave that can travel through gases, plasma, liquids and solid materials. Sound waves are usually transmitted as longitudinal waves, also known as compression waves. However, they can also be transmitted through solids as transverse waves. In a longitudinal wave, displacements of particles of the medium are parallel to the direction of travel of the wave. Transverse waves are waves of alternating shear stress perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave along the medium. The simplest sound waves are sinusoidal waves, which have a definite frequency, amplitude, and wavelength. Sound waves can also be described as an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a medium, where pressure fluctuates above and below atmospheric pressure, alternating pressure deviations, which results in local regions of compression and rarefaction. Sound is composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and a level strong enough to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in hearing organs by vibration of matter in a medium. The human ears hearing range is from frequencies of about 20 to 20,000 Hz.

Wave velocity within solid

The velocities of mechanical wave propagation in the rod are given by the following equation

where Youngs modulus is a material constant, and the volume mass density of the rod is used instead of mass density to give a more accurate velocity. Using this formula, the propagation velocity of a wave travelling in different metals can be determined. The table below shows the Youngs moduli, volume mass densities, and wave velocities of the materials of the rods used in our experiment at room temperature. Material of rod Aluminum Steel Copper Youngs modulus (N/m2) 6.9 20 x 1010 11 x 1010 Volume mass density (kg/m3) 2700 7800 8900 Velocity (m/s) 5.0 x 103 5.1 x 103 3.5 x 103

Since the medium of wave propagation does not change, the wave velocity also remains the same and a change in the wavelength of sound produced will result in a change in frequency, so the pitch of sound heard is different when the rod is held differently. Frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength, and pitch is directly proportional to frequency. A shorter wavelength leads to a higher frequency and thus higher pitch heard, and likewise, a longer wavelength leads to a lower frequency and a lower pitch heard.

Waves within the rod

The standing wave pattern in a solid rod is very much similar to that of an open pipe; both odd and even harmonics are possible. Because particles at both ends are able to vibrate more freely the rest, antinodes always occur at both ends of a rod. Holding the rod at different positions and hitting it can create various wave patterns. The region being held between our fingers becomes a node as particles in the rod are unable to vibrate due to damping from our fingers. A change in hitting position can produce transverse waves in the rod. For example, if a rod is hit on the side near the end of the rod, a higher pitch and a lower pitch can be heard. The lower pitch, caused by the transverse waves, dies away faster than the higher pitch of the longitudinal waves. Since the production of transverse waves in a rod is more complex and does not follow the same pattern as longitudinal waves, our experiment focuses mainly on producing longitudinal waves.

Experiment 1: Effect of medium on velocity and frequency

Apparatus: Procedure: Result Frequency (Hz) Material Aluminium Steel Copper Trial 1 7753 7694 5312 Trial 2 7750 7694 5326 Average 7752 7694 5319 Theoretical value of 1st harmonic 7813 7969 5469 Tap the end of the aluminium rod while holding the rod at the middle point Repeat with steel rod and copper rod Steel rod, aluminium rod, copper rod of 32cm-long Hammer

Experiment 2: Effect of holding and hitting position on frequency

Apparatus: Audacity (Computer software), Microphone, 32cm aluminum rod, meter rule, markers 1. Keep hitting position ( at the top), change holding position: a. Label point on the rod b. The rod is hold vertically at the middle with two fingers and it is hit at the top using another aluminium rod.

c. The sound is recorded with microphone and the frequency is analyzed by using the Audacity in the computer. d. Repeat the experiment e. Repeat step b and c using the same metal rod by holding at position

Results
Sample of obtained result hold at the middle and hit at the end

Holding position 1/6 1/8

Frequency/ Hz Trial 1 7753 15517 15507 15502 Trial 2 7750 15511 15504 15499 Average 7752 15514 15506 15501 Corresponding theoretical value 1st Harmonic: 7813 2nd Harmonic: 15626 3rd: Harmonic: 23439 4th Harmonic: 31252

2. Keep the holding position at the middle and change hitting positions: a. Label point on the rod b. The rod is hold horizontally at the middle by two fingers and it is hit at position using another aluminium rod. c. The sound is recorded with microphone and the frequency is analyzed by using the Audacity in the computer. d. Repeat the experiment e. Repeat step b and c using the same metal rod by hitting at position and at the end

Hitting position

Frequency/ Hz Trial 1 7293 9648 12167

Trial 2 7294 9686 12148 12250

Average 7294 9667 12158 12237

At the end

12223

Conclusion